November 2021 AEE Student of the Month: Gabrielle Kriley

The Center for Professional Personnel Development is proud to name Gabrielle Kriley as the November 2021 Agricultural and Extension Education Student of the Month. Gabby is a senior studying Agricultural and Extension Education with a minor in International Agriculture. She is from Rural Valley, Pennsylvania where she graduated from Lenape Technical School. 

Gabby's passion for agriculture was sparked at a young age from growing up on her family's fruit farm and continued as she began her journey as a member of the Armstrong County 4-H. She was apart of the Young Ruff Riders, Square Dancing Team, and Teen Leadership Council. She shares "Once I became actively engaged in 4-H, I began to learn the way plants grow, the importance of agriculture literacy, and became more familiar with the importance of agriculture on society. I grew such a love for agriculture as I realized that without it, the human race would no longer exist. As I continued my education through high school and college, my passion for agriculture has only grown."

Before starting her journey at Penn State, University Park, Gabby attended the Penn State New Kensington commonwealth campus where she was involved in THON and served as a biology lab assistant as well as the president of the Student Government Association. Once arriving at University Park campus Gabby has not skipped a beat. She is involved in LEAD Society, serves as a Teach Ag! Avenger, and Student Worker for the Professional Personnel Development. 

Some of Gabby's favorite things on campus include hiding on the third floor of the library to study, exploring new places, and eating at URBN Flavourhous in Bellefonte. Her favorite course that she has taken so far has been AEE 350: Teaching Methods for Agricultural and Environmental Laboratories because of the hands-on opportunities that she can take into the classroom. In her spare time she also enjoys horseback riding and listening to new music. 

Gabby is currently gearing up for her student teaching experience at Bermudian Springs High School in York Springs, Pennsylvania where she will be teaching Agriculture Environmental Awareness and Plant Science. She has shared some goals she has set for herself going into student teaching "My goal is to experience classroom teaching while also pushing myself to learn new content knowledge that I am unfamiliar with. Having the hands-on opportunity of teaching can change my whole perspective of teaching and ultimately, I know it is for the better because my Cooperating Teacher is incredibly helpful and has allowed me to run with the ideas that I have experienced so far."

One piece of advice she is offering underclassmen is "Do not allow your grades to define who you are as a person. College is challenging and you have various resources that can help you advance in your education." The Center is excited to see what else Gabby accomplishes in her Teach Ag journey. To keep up with Gabby be sure to follow her on Twitter @KrileyGabrielle and on Instagram @Gabrielle_mae128.

Morgan Bear

CPPD Student Worker

Agricultural & Extension Education

Class of 2023

Congratulations Ryan Rupert, #psuaged19 member hired!

Ryan Rupert comes from Beech Creek, PA, and recently

graduated from Penn State University in May.

We love to see our student's hard work and motivation pay off - especially when they land their first jobs! Yet another member of the 2019 AEE cohort, Mr. Ryan Rupert, was recently hired by Bermudian Springs High School in York Springs, Pennsylvania. We reached out to Ryan to speak with him about this exciting new chapter in his life and see what he had to say! 

Ryan Rupert grew up on a small hobby farm in Beech Creek, Pennsylvania, where he was constantly able to learn by doing, whether it be chopping wood, bailing hay, or taking care of plants and animals at the local pet and feed store. Throughout high school, he was active in his home FFA chapter up to Ryan's graduation this past May, he's taken numerous opportunities to get involved both inside and outside of Penn State, including serving as the secretary and historian of Penn State Altoona's Ag Club and as a lion ambassador, working as the first TA for ANSC 201, and being an active member in LEAD Society. Ryan holds professional affiliations with Alpha Tau Alpha, the National Association of Agricultural Educators, the Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators, and the Association of Career and Technical Educators. 

Ryan Rupert (Middle) with several students from 

Greenwood High School.

In his new position as an Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor at Bermudian Springs High School, Ryan will have the opportunity to teach alongside Ms. Dianna Jarema. "I think it's cool that Dianna and I both student-taught at Greenwood." We asked Ryan about something that he's excited for within Bermudian Springs' agricultural program, and he shared that he was excited to be teaching at a place that he thinks he'll fit in so well: "To be honest, I didn't know much about the program. I just knew Mrs. Jarema and felt she would be a perfect fit! I hope to teach some awesome students and support the community as I grow to learn more about Bermudian Springs' Ag Ed." Ryan will get the opportunity to teach several courses, including Plant Science, Agribusiness, and the one he's looking forward to the most: Greenhouse Management. 

Ryan shares that his Penn State degree has prepared him well for his new position. "Penn State's AEE program has really been amazing at building a family-like network for Ag teachers." He continues, saying that he's thankful to have such a great support system to head into as he takes on his first job, and that the connections he's been able to make will be invaluable in the years to come. 

From L to R: Mr. Michael Clark, Ryan Rupert, 

and Ms. Krista Pontius.

We asked if he has anyone that he would like to recognize, and Ryan says, "[I'm thankful for] Michael Clark and Krista Pontius, my cooperating teachers, and the faculty and staff of Penn State Teach Ag." Mr. Clark and Ms. Pontius have coached Ryan through his student teaching experience at Greenwood High School this past spring semester. He is also thankful for the support provided by his family and friends over the past several years as he completed his degree. 

We wish Ryan the best of luck, and we share his enthusiasm as he gets settled into his new job at Bermudian Springs High School and prepares for the arrival of his new students in August!



Want to read more about Ryan?

• NAAE National Award Winner

Hunter Kauffman

Team Leader, @TeachAgPSU Communications

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

College of Agricultural Sciences